Almost a third of people in Scotland think a woman can partly be to blame if she is raped, a Scottish Executive survey has shown.

The study was carried out as part of the executive’s campaign against domestic violence.

Women’s groups reacted with alarm to the findings and said it could help explain why only about 4% of rape cases result in a conviction.

Changes to rape laws are being examined by the Scottish Law Commission.

The survey showed the vast majority of people in Scotland believe rape victims are never responsible for the crime.

But 27% said if a woman was drunk she was partly to blame, while the proportion was 26% if the woman was wearing revealing clothing.

Almost a third – 32% – told researchers it was partly a woman’s fault if she was flirting, while almost a fifth said she may be to blame if she has had many sexual partners.

Read More